Abstract

We investigated the influence of silver nanoparticles (NPs) on the infrared-to-visible frequency upconversion (UC) in GeO2-PbO glass triply doped with thulium (Tm3+), erbium (Er3+), and ytterbium (Yb3+) ions. The NPs were nucleated inside the samples by heat-treatment of the germanate glass that included small amount of AgNO3 in the starting composition. When excited at 980 nm, in resonance with the Yb3+ transition 2F7/2 → 2F5/2, the samples emit blue light at ≈477 nm due to the Tm3+ions, green light at ≈530 nm and ≈550 nm due to the Er3+ions, and red light at ≈652 nm due to Tm3+ and at ≈660 nm due to the Er3+ions. Due to the silver NPs, the photoluminescence intensity grows by ≈60% in comparison with a sample having the same composition but without silver NPs. This is the first time that UC enhancement due to metallic NPs is investigated for a triply rare-earth (RE)dopedglass. The results indicate the possibility of development of more efficient three-dimensional RE based color displays by nucleation of metallic particles in the glass host.

Received 06 March 2013Accepted 01 April 2013Published online 16 April 2013

Acknowledgments:

We acknowledge financial support from the Brazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE). The work was performed in the framework of the projects: Photonics National Institute (INCT de Fotônica) and PRONEX.